IRAN: As many as 3 million protesters anticipated at Thursday rally

The 22nd day of the Persian calendar month of Bahman, the date 31 years ago when Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini declared Iran an Islamic republic, is traditionally a time for official patriotic fervor and the unveiling of national achievements. 

But on Sunday, a source inside Tehran police headquarters told a friend of the Los Angeles Times in Iran that security forces expect as many as 3 million anti-government protesters to descend on the center of the capital during the holiday, which falls on Thursday this year, after loud calls by opposition leaders to take the streets. 

The government is also expected to be prepared, deploying about 12,000 baton-wielding Basiji militiamen from outside the capital and legions of supporters bused in from around the country.

"The government managed to collect and gather around 500,000 supporters," the friend of the newspaper said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "This number is very real. All of their efforts have amounted to 500,000."

Official warnings and acts of defiance, including a protest at a Tehran university (above), continued to ratchet up tensions in Iran ahead of the anniversary.

Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a televised address to the air force, insisted Iran would demonstrate unity and "give all arrogant powers a punch in the mouth" on Thursday. He issued a stern warning to those who continue to oppose the June reelection of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, describing them as agents of the deposed monarchy 

"It is now completely known that those who stood against the Iranian nation's choice in the election don't belong to this nation," he said. "They are either counterrevolutionary or are following in the steps of counterrevolutionaries out of ignorance and obstinacy."

On the streets, officials continue to prepare for the holiday, setting up loudspeakers along the traditional march route (see video below) to drown out opposition slogans. Police chief Gen. Esmail Ahmadi-Moghaddam said security forces would team up with plainclothes pro-government Basiji militiamen and fan out across the city to "neutralize all conspiracies of the enemies." 

His deputy, Gen. Ahmad-Reza Radan, predicted the holiday "will mark the burial of sedition."

"Police will not tolerate any unofficial slogan or symbol," he said. 

Meanwhile, officials also stepped up pressure on the leaders of the opposition. The armed forces general staff issued a statement carried by the website of the Revolutionary Guard accusing opposition leaders of fomenting continued unrest. "In case they stick to their positions, they will inevitably meet the same difficult fate as their predecessors who stood against the supreme leader," it said. 

A group of hard-line lawmakers, who came to office after careful vetting by the unelected jurists of the equally hard-line Guardian Council, warned opposition leaders Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi that the 22nd of Bahman was their "last chance" before unspecified consequences. 

An Iranian court sentenced Mohsen Aminzadeh, the reformist former deputy foreign minister, to six years in prison on charges of organizing protests, disturbing the country's security and propagandizing against the system by giving interviews to international news outlets, his lawyer told the Iranian Students News Agency.

Still, opposition groups and figures continued their calls for supporters of the "green movement," the nickname given to the opposition, to head into the streets. 

Former President Mohammad Khatami called Thursday a potential turning point in the history of Iran. "God willing, all Iranians will attend the 22 Bahman rally in a bid to show support for the revolution and people's rights," he said in a meeting with reporters of the Iranian Labor News Agency, according to the website of his foundation, Baran.org.ir. 

"Those who groundlessly accuse protesters of subversion are voluntarily or involuntarily derailing the revolution from its correct track, and they call into question the principles of the revolution," he said. "Now tell me whether those who protest to deviation from the principles are subversive, or those who utter baseless accusations against people and the revolutionary forces?"

-- Los Angeles Times

Upper video: Students gather at Tehran's Sharif University on Sunday. Credit: YouTube

Lower video: Construction vehicles place loudspeakers along Tehran's Engehelab Street ahead of Thursday's rally. Credit: YouTube 

Upper photo: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Credit: Sepahnews

Lower photo: A portion of a YouTube video showing protesters at Sharif University on Sunday. Credit: Los Angeles Times

Comments

[daleandersen]

When the Iranian Theocracy crumbles, where will the Mullahs and their puppets flee to? Who will take them in? North Korea? Hizbollahland? Zimbabwe? LOL!

[President Suit]

New from those wonderful folks who brought you the US Embassy Iranian Hostage Crisis: now Iran says they’re going to punch us this week and leave us stunned. Not to worry. I’m sure O-Drama will appoint a blue ribbon panel to study the problem, then broadcast another infomercial about how what we really need is healthcare insurance reform.

[patriotson2]

This revolution of Khomeine was started to form a Republic with human rights and dignity toward the people of Iran.
The despots now in control, fattening their bank accounts on the backs of the people do not want the corruption they have backed to end. The truth is they have already lost. I hope on Thursday, there will be 8 million green shirts and scarfs in the streets; all streets of Iran and the government will have to leave the captial in shame. I understand they already have planes on standby should that glorious day occur. People or Iran...Throw off the shackles that bind you. Be a people of the Republic and throw the bums out! While Obama will not encourage you, the people of America embrace you for wanting a true Republic and freedom.

[Cyrus E.]

Freedom to all true Iranians. I will pray for all of you! Godspeed.
Down with the Islamic Republic!

[masterpuff theater]

Iran's highest religious figure, who also happens to be the head of the Iranian government, said Iran was going to "give all arrogant powers a punch in the mouth."

Still unclear is which mullah wants to actually risk tearing his robe or losing his turban during the fistfight.

[proud iranian]

Rise up Iranians!! Never forget your long history and rich culture BEFORE Islam was forced on us. Stand up and fight the Theocratic Dicatorship!!
fight for a free and secular Iran!!

[jack]

This is part and parcel of us empires ongoing propaganda campaign of disinformation against every country that is not a us/zionist puppet.

[Publicola]

In the statements by politicians of the opposition some aspects of the Iranian revolution under Khomeini are questioned and its contents, methods, outcome and results are expected to be revisited, critically scrutinized, analysed with a view to a revision and a new, realistic assessment against the backdrop of today’s experience.

A look behind the dense curtain of 31 years and legends of unconditional appreciative appraisal is done in the eyewitness account “30 years ago” from the perspective of a then young girl. This impressive account by a witness to history was published one year ago on the website “neo-resistance” by the authoress and blog-host “naj”. Written on the occasion of 22 Bahman exactly one year ago this moving, heartrending account of insurgent Iran during the days that shook the world still - and even more so now - cuts the reader to the quick.

This settlement of accounts with history is to be found via the link:

http://iranfacts.blogspot.com/2009/02/30-years-ago.html

website: "neo-resistance"; authoress: "naj" -Thursday, Februar 12, 2009

[rick]

Geez, maybe living under the Shah wasn'r as bad after all.

[anon]

Death to the dictator!